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…thank you for The Roots. Don’t you love these guys? I’ve seen The Roots perform several times and each and every time their live show has been phenomenal. If Black Thought is not in your Top 5 MC’s of all time, then you need to re-acquaint yourself with the entire Roots catalogue and check the evidence.

They have a new album coming out this summer and hopefully a North American tour in the works soon (If they can get time off LNJF)

As of late I’ve mostly been offering you goodies from established artists and people you’re generally familiar with. Cats who’ve already put in their work and now have the luxury of having fans who actually pay attention whenever their name pops up.

Well, with ’09 on its death bed and the genesis of a new year upon us, I figured, let’s hang with some newer cats today. And even though these guys aren’t technically the newest, most unheard of bunch, they’re still working hard to have their cult followings blow up to the masses.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

No, the above title heading isn’t my prediction but in fact the name of the new record from Detroit’s torchbearer of production since the late great Dilla‘s passing, Black Milk.

As this is his 4th official drop (and like nth if you count mixtapes and what not) it’s odd for me to call Milk a new schooler just because he’s still relatively unknown to the masses. Everyone in the scene knows him and is quite familiar with his hard edged boom bap and pocket cadences, and homie’s been doing his thing for quite some time now. However, because of where he’s at and what he’s accomplished, general media still consider him part of this class and well, I guess it’s better than going the route of has-been. Anyway, from what I’m told, Milk’s swinging for the fences this year and I’ll be the first to admit I have a personal stake in seeing Detroit cats win. So, here’s my nudge for Milk to get his this year.

It seems like if you throw Jay (or J-)in your name, success is inevitable.

Jay Dee (Dilla not Dupri), Jay-Z, J-Rocc, J.J. Fad, J-Kwon…okay, so maybe not everyone who throws it in there, but there seem to be enough. Now to add to the list, the South’s first internationally known true-blue lyricist since ’93’s inauguration of a young Antwan Patton and Andre Benjamin, Jay Electronica.

Nas approved, Mos Def affiliated and Erykah Badu loved, in his short time in the business, the new Jay on the block has accomplished an incredible amount and shows absolutely no signs of slowing for the new year. If you’ve never heard him, just imagine Mos Def and DOOM‘s lovechild. Or better yet, why don’t you just take a listen for yourself. Courtesy of Jay and another blockbuster of a close affiliate in Just Blaze, I give you that new new.

This Roots affiliate, like many of the others (Malik B., Dice Raw, etc.), gets under appreciated for his work. I’m not trying to claim that he’s the hottest thing out, but he’s quite good at what he does and if you’re ever searchin for some good ol’ fashioned gettin it in type raps, he’s always worth checking.

Cut from the Roots ‘Sandwiches EP’, Truck brings you a minute of that raw ish. I like it beaucoup.

I’m sorry, but this past week has just been too good for me to not keep posting.

SANDWICHES

Sandwiches. Mirriam-Webster defines a Sandwich as: 1 a: two or more slices of bread or a split roll having a filling in between b: one slice of bread covered with food.

However, RapRadar defines a sandwich as: When The Roots enter and leave a commercial break on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, they perform small sets called “sandwiches”. And since joining the show in March, the crew have composed 1,000 of ‘em. This past weekend, drummer ?uestlove compiled 22 of them into a free EP. Can’t beat that.

No not the astronaut, the DJ. Founding member of the legendary turntablist crew the 5th Platoon (which also includes highly decorated vets likes Vinroc, Roli Rho, I. Emerg and others) has been tearin shows and pumpin out mixtapes for years now. And although well known amongst DJ’s and Turntablists, Armstrong’s maintained a relatively low profile (whether intentionally or unintentionally, I’m not sure) outside the walls of his genre. Well, this past year, he was given the opportunity to be Mr. Shawn Carter‘s touring DJ for the Blueprint 3 and well, that’s just something you don’t pass up.

Anyway, he’s just released this short little clip detailing a day in the life of DJ Neil Armstrong. If you don’t know…..

With the 4th quarter upon us and several projects from tons of amazing people still awaiting release, HHHT gets into a few in particular that we’re eye-spyin’ for.

TIL THE CASKET DROPS

Oh Clipse, this one better be good.

I’ve said this before on this blog, but I’ll reiterate one more time. I’m a huge Clipse fan. Really and truly I am. Like, I’ve gone on record as saying that as far as Street lyricists are concerned, they’re the closest thing we’ve had to Wu-Tang in a long long time. HOWEVER, that last Re-Up gang record was not only unfocused in terms of production and direction, but lyrically they were barely punching their way out of that proverbial wet paper bag (see ‘Fast Life’ produced by Scott Storch). And to that end…I’m scared. Nonetheless, I’ve heard 3 cuts off the album thus far and have been relatively content. Perhaps because they’ve all been Neptunes beats and that’s, at the end of the day, what I think the Clipse should sound like. Also, Mr. ‘Bison in his studio’, the legendary Rick Rubin is overseeing this album so I can only hope that means any loose ends the Star Trak boys miss, Rick’s holdin down. Anyway, here’s a new cut featuring Pharrell and the former Dipset General, Cam’ron, whaddya think?

Jack Davey & Brook D’Leau, better known as J*Davey have been a favorite group of mine ever since I saw them perform at this little spot in Toronto some years back.

A clash of about a half dozen genres in one, they were just starting to get their buzz in the scene when the Roots, who obviously felt they were of a particular quality decided to bring them on the Beginner’s Guide… tour. Unfortunately for them, when they reached Toronto, the type of music they did matched with the venue they were performing at and the audience that was in attendance made for a vinegar/oil type of situation as these 2 were completely drowned out with Boo’s for damn near the entirety of their set. However, unlike most acts that would’ve packed it up mid-way through the shit storm, they persevered through and finished the set graciously. Score 1 for J*Davey. Then, a smart move on their part, they booked a show the next night here in a much smaller club and they absolutely demolished. They then went on to feature on the Roots next record Game Theory (which is in IMO their best record to date), the late great J Dilla’s Dilla Loves Japan EP, and release 2 EP’s to critical acclaim. Now, after being picked up by Warner, their preparing to drop their first full length (apparently) soon. In the meantime, here’s some new ish.

I’m not gonna say ANYTHING about this. Just watch the video below and digest it yourself cause I’m still convulsing.

I’ll be posting webisodes from the recording sessions on a regular from now on in. GET FAMILIAR!

**Bonus**

This is kinda old news but for those who don’t know…Allhiphop.com and Jumpoff.TV have been doing a series called ’48 Hours’ where they follow major artists on the first 2 days of releasing a brand new album. Thus far, the people they’ve picked have been interesting and the series has been relatively entertaining. For your viewing pleasure, I thought I’d start posting these up and give you a behind the scenes look at some serious players hard at work.

In the last decade, the once dominant East Coast (Home of everyone from De La Soul to the Notorious B.I.G., the Juice Crew to the Wu-Tang Clan) have struggled to stay on top of the rap food chain as their necessity for cadence and concept has been dwarfed by the Souths ever infectious ‘Bounce’ and ‘Hook’ approach. And well, while living legends Jay-Z and Nas still continue to dominate whenever they appear, the notion of a new East Coast dynasty remains myth like Lebron’s Championship ring.

However, as an over obsessive rap Stan, I’ve noticed something this year that has somehow slipped under the mainstream media’s radar…THE EAST IS BACK! Now I won’t go so far as to say a new Dynasty is on the horizon because quite frankly, outside of a handful of artists, the East is still selling less than the South. But for those who just love themselves some East Coast ish, 2009’s been good to you!

Apologies for the lack of updates. I’ve been caught in a whirlwind of promo for my upcoming TOUR(15 cities cross Canada! Come see us!!!) and haven’t really had time to keep you up with all the happenings of recent.

Well, in the past little bit, I’ve seen such an incredible slew of videos (good, bad and WTF?!) that I thought I’d just post a few of’em each day for the next little while until I get some time to really pump some ish out. Those who’re regular on the blog circuit might notice that some of these are a few weeks old but for those who haven’t, enjoy.

The Good

The Roots – How I Got Over(sorry wasn’t able to embed. Twitvid is being a b.i. Click pic)

The Bad (as in M.J. Bad)

Jay-Z – D.O.A.

WTF?!

Hurricane Chris – Halle Berry (Live for the Louisiana House of Representatives)

And as a BONUS MPFREE, some new Sa-Ra featuring the lovely miss Erykah Badu. – click pic.

Undoubtedly you’ve been bombarded by a touch too much M.J. news for the past week and I know for some of you, it’s become far too overwhelming.

I can sympathize. I really can.

So, because of that, I kindly ask you to please bare with me as I get this last little bit of M.J. off my chest before I return to being the self-righteous blowhard of a blogger I’ve slowly come to be.

In commemoration of M.J., I’ve compiled the best remixes, tributes and covers that have surfaced this past week, all into one convenient post. These all helped me to smile, appreciate and move on and I hope they provide you these same sentiments.

Generally I don’t post a lot of videos up because a) Nothing really caught my eye or b) The CAPtain got it. But for some reason, the past few days there’ve been a lot of new videos dropping with dope tracks and I figured, let’s break’em all out in one special ting ting.

Wherever you are…whether at home, at work or on vacation…here’s some visual content to ease the passing of time.

Truck North – Never Ending Flip

I posted this track earlier this week, and whaddya know, Video! Allow him to re-introduce himself….

Jake One – Home Feat. Vitamin D, Note, Maneak B and Ish

From Jake One’s ‘White Van Music’. Easily one of my favorite songs off the record featuring 4 Seattle cats that you probably’ve never heard of. This is posse cut goodness.

Prodigy – Mac 10 Handle

I’ve never really been a Mobb Deep fan. Call me a skeptic, but I generally don’t believe homocidal tales from cats who stand 4 foot nothing and are constantly getting robbed and clowned. However, despite all that, they always seem to have a minimum of 1 song an album that makes you forget all that and just embodies the definition of ‘Gully’. Well CAPtain…some more ‘Gully’esque vibes for your soul.

and finally…

Beastie Boys & The Roots – So Whatcha Want

Are they old? Yes. Is this visually exciting? Not so much. Does it sound dope? Yessir.

The Roots helping the Beastie Beastie Boys get live on the spot. Classic song by classic people.

My homey Bobby Bonestorm has been trying to send me this ridiculousness for a while. Remember how you felt when you first were introduced to Borat. Ladies and Gentlemen, for your viewing pleasure, I present. the latest incarnation from Sacha Baron Cohen, Bruno. Watch it quick, cause it might get taken down soon.

We, the pre-pubescent Kings of the Futon, will be taking a lengthy hiatus (due to my return to the great white North on some Weapon X ish) and well this foursome (along with Jheri Curl Chest and Sir Sweat-A-Lot) will be rocking our last show together until we get our Police on (the band not the po) and rock you for a cool half-a-billion.